Scarborough RUFC return to league action with Old Brods test

Dave Campbell

After all the razzmatazz of last week’s Intermediate Cup quarter-final defeat of Blackburn, Scarborough come back down to earth tomorrow playing Old Brodleians in Yorkshire One at Silver Royd.

The west Yorkshiremen had a poor start to the season winning only two of their opening 12 league games.

However their fortunes improved after the turn of the year and they have lost only one game in their last four; at North Ribblesdale where they let a 22-0 lead slip and went down 26-25; a bit like Scarborough’s defeat at the same venue a couple of weeks ago.

Their three wins were all at home; against Middlesbrough 15-0, Heath 33-15 and the 53-14 demolition of bottom club Pontefract two weeks ago.

Skipper Tom Ratcliffe’s men travelled to Hipperholme back in November and came away with a 25-13 win; tries from Corey Dennis, Jesse Macdonald and Eamon Chapman plus 10 points from the boot of Tom Harrison saw the visitors home after a hard-fought game.

For tomorrow’s game Corey Dennis, Tomasz Chadwick, Taylor Smith and Paul Taylor are all sidelined by injury, while Nick Ingham is unavailable.

Wesley Langkilde starts at tight-head, Paul White is at open-side and Matty Else moves to second row with Eamon Chapman replacing him at number eight. Jesse Macdonald, James Leach and Jordi Wakeham are on the bench.

Last season Old Brods got revenge for a controversial 23-22 home defeat by beating Scarborough 22-20 at Silver Royd despite a brace of touchdowns by now-retired Craig Farrell.

With five first-teamers missing and given ‘Brods’ resurgence it looks like tomorrow’s game will be a close-fought affair with the Scarborough players looking to impress coach Lee Douglas ahead of the big cup game in two weeks time.

Following their quarter-final success, Scarborough will host Bridgnorth RFC from Shropshire at Silver Royd on Saturday April 4 at 3pm. I can tell you that they are a formidable team and lead their league having gone the season unbeaten so far and like Blackburn have scored over 1,000 points. So as you can see it’ll be no walk in the park and will be a tough test for Lee Douglas and his charges.